{"id":170042,"date":"2025-12-30T12:51:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T09:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/170042\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-teenagers-given-lengthy-prison-terms-for-alleged-links-with-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/170042\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: teenagers given lengthy prison terms for alleged links with Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 30, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus from December 25 to 29 included lengthy prison terms for a group of teenagers accused of setting up an anarchist cell and cooperating with Ukrainian secret services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandra Pulinovi\u010d, D\u017amitryj Zacharo\u0161ka, Trafim Barysa\u016d, Siarhiej \u017dyhalo\u016d and Danii\u0142 Hiersima\u016d were given prison terms of 10 to 13 years, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate development, police arrested \u0141ukieryja Mironcava and her daughter Vieranika, Dissidentby said. The charges against them remain unclear. Earlier, Mironcava\u2019s two other daughters had served prison terms in politically-motivated cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights defenders confirmed 127 arrests and 78 verdicts over links to the now-defunct Bie\u0142aruski Hajun online initiative that monitored Russian military activities in Belarus since 2022. However, the total number of detainees is significantly higher, as arrests and trials are still taking place across Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u017amitryj Iliuchin, former first secretary of the Belarusian embassy in the United States, was given a prison term on extremism-related charges, Na\u0161a Niva <\/em>reported. He was likely arrested one year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banned content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry announced extremist content designations for mayby.com<\/em>, a YouTube video about Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, citydog_by<\/em> on Instagram and Kira Bajarenka<\/em> on TikTok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus\u2019 authorities also banned 52 books from distribution in the country, labeling them as harmful to national interests. Among the banned books is a monograph on the origins of modern Belarusian statehood by Polish historian Dorota Michaluk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interior ministry added 11 more people to the list of people it considers to be \u201cinvolved in extremist activities,\u201d including documented political prisoners, ex-Kastu\u015b Kalino\u016dski Regiment fighters Vasil Vieramiej\u010dyk and Vasil Hra\u010dycha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusians returning to the country from abroad, including students, keep facing interrogations at the border, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activist Ihar Alinievi\u010d, serving a 20-year prison term, held a hunger strike for one month, Pravo na Vosstaniye<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanstancin Za\u0142atych, the ex-CEO of the Belorusy i Rynok<\/em> weekly, released from prison in October after serving a four-year sentence, moved to Warsaw, he said on Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 1,254 people have been convicted in politically-motivated criminal cases in Belarus this year, including 355 women and 45 seniors, Viasna said. Belarusian judges also passed guilty verdicts against 30 exiles without their presence at the trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of December 30, human rights defenders identified at least 1,131 political prisoners, with dozens of them listed as vulnerable. The real number is considerably higher because of many undocumented cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On December 30, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned 22 prisoners, mostly his political opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"